Rubber thimble



A. M. LEVEY RUBBER THIMBLE July 9, 1940.

Filed Oct. 12, 1939 Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUBBER THIMBLE Alvin M. Lovey, Pine Bluff, Ark. Application October 12, 1939, Serial No. 299,194

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a thimble primarily adapted for use in sewing.

It is aimed to provide a novel and more efllcient construction, particularly enabling manufacture 5 in fewer different sizes to accommodate all sizes ofv fingers on which it may be worn.

It is further aimed to provide a construction which may be made in substantially a single piece, having a relatively hard portion embedded therein for disposition in the line of pressure against a needle, which is of relatively hard material such as hard rubber or metal, and which thimble has guard ridges or rolls thereon to prevent a needle striking the flesh, should it slip, and one of which rolls being located so that a needle at the edge of the hard portion, cannot penetrate the soft rubber and engage the flesh.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the improved 26 thimble;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the pressure wall,

30 and Figure 5 is a plan view of such pressure wall.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the thimble has a pressure wall generally 35 designated I0, located at the zone or area where the head of a needle used in sewing, is engaged and pressed. This wall has a portion ll, substantially semi-circular, and a spherical portion l2 extended from the upper end thereof. This 40 pressure wall may be made from any suitable material impenetrable by a needle, thus being relatively hard, and for instance hard rubber or metal.

Said plate is imbedded or vulcanized in a 45 thimble body 13, generally of thimble shape, that is open at the larger end, and tapering toward the closed outer or smaller end. The rubber I3 is relatively soft, that is flexible so as to accommodate itself to and yield with diflerent 50 sizes of finger tips on which it is worn.

It will be noted that the plate is of a size to cover the area at one side of the thimble and at the closed end, where a needle is engaged, so that a needle may be effectively pressed.

55 Through that portion of the thimble wall I3 01)- posite the portion ll, vent openings l4 may be provided.

Particular attention is called to the fact that beads I5 and 16, of the same soft or flexible rubber as used at l3, are provided integral therewith, being positioned to guard the finger in the event the needle engagd with the thimble should slip off of the outer end or side, 'such' beads serving as stops for the needle.

In some instances, the bead IS surrounds the 10 thimble to the same extent as the wall 0. portion H only. However, it is preferable to have bead l6 entirely surround the thimble with a portion located opposite the free edge of the portion l2, so that the material l3 below the 15 same will not have to be thick enough to prevent penetration by a needle.

It is apparent that thesoft rubber portion of the thimble acts as a cushion for the finger making the thimble more comfortable than the ordinary thimble, and furthermore fits snugly the finger so that danger of casual displacement of the thimble from the finger is avoided.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thimble of the class described having an elastic body of thimble form, a wall in said body of relatively hard material extending over the closed end of the thimble and partially around and along the side wall thereof so as to leave a portion of the body unrestricted to enable ex pansion to fit fingers of different sizes, said wall being of less thickness than the body and spaced from the inner and outer surfaces of the latter, and vent means through the side wall of the thimble disalined with said hard material.

2. A thimble of the class described having an elastic body of thimble form, a wall in said body of relatively hard material extending over the closed end of the thimble and partially around and along the side wall thereof, so as to leave a portion of the body unrestricted to enable expansion to fit fingers of different sizes, said wall being of less thickness than the body and spaced from the inner and outer surfaces of the latter, and a bead extending outwardly from the thimble adjacent the free edge of the hard wall at the closed end of the thimble, for the purposes specified.

3. A thimble of the class described having an elastic. body of thimble form, a wall in said body of relatively hard material extending over the fied, a bead extending outwardly at the larger end of the thimble to guard the hand against the needle should the latter slip, said wall being of hard rubbervulcanized in the thimble body.

4. A thimble or the class described having an elastic body of thimble form, a wall in said body -needle should the latterv slip,

of relatively hard material extending over the closed end or the thimble and partially around and along the side wall thereof so as to leave a portion of the body unrestricted to enable expansion to fit fingers oi diflerent sizes, said wall being of less thickness than the body and spaced from the inner and outer surfaces of the latter, a bead extending outwardly from the thimble adjacent the free edge .01 the hard wall at the closed end of the thimble, for the purposes specified, a'bead extending outwardly at thelarger end of the thimble to guard the hand against the said wall beins metallic.

: ALVIN M. LEVEY. 

